Improvement in wheel hay-rakes



INVENTOR @exam/(1A @Uw @U1/0 Pa1en1ed0c1.11,1875.

'l- FETERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. D CA La DOW. Wheei Hay-Bake.

UNITED srvAT'Esy CHARLES LA Dow, oF BALLsToN, NEW YORK'.

iMPRovEMEN-r IN WHEEL HAV-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 168,648, dated October1l, 1875 application led V Y September 2, 187 5.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES LA DOW, ofBallston, in the county of Saratoga and in the State of NewV York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel Hay-Rakes; and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to that class of mounted horse-rakes in which theload is dumped automatically by the draft or forward motion of thewheels When the proper engagement is made; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of a divided axle, with wheels firmlyfastened thereon, a friction-gripe for engaging with the divided axle,stops on the teeth, and a lever for dumping the rake by hand, andholding the rake in an elevated position, all as hereinafter more fullyset forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-A Figure 1 is a plan view of a horse hay-rake embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same through the line .frx, Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached views of parts thereof.

The axle of my horse hay-rake is made of round iron, and in two pieces,A A, each part being hinged by two bearings to the rakehead B, whichsupports the teeth. This head is provided with a series of slots,through which the teeth C pass in such a manner as to allow a free hingemovement-in passing ob structions, and also to prevent their workingsidewise, or crossing each other when at work. The upper ends of theteeth C are bent at right angles from the curve of the teeth, said bentportions being confined to the front side of the head by a series ofgrooved buttons, G, of which one is placed lengthwise over the bentportions between each pair of teeth, and secured there by a bolt, b, insuch a way .that the bent portions on the teeth may be held firmlyagainst the head, thereby keeping them in place While at work, and atthe same time I admitting of the teeth being easily removed from thehead when desired, which is done by loosening the nut a, on the boltholding the button against the angles, when, by turning the buttoncrosswise from the angles on the teeth, they may be pushed forward andwithdrawn from-the slots.

I am aware that pairs of rake-teeth have been rigidly clamped to therake-head by a button, which is pivoted in its center with its endslying over two teeth, so that by loosenving the pivot, and rotating thebutton, the

teeth may be extracted from the head; but in such invention as known tome the teeth are rigidly clamped upon the top of the head, and have nofree hinge movement, and all the elasticity that can be secured in suchcase must be derived from the tooth itself.

With my invention the button is grooved longitudinally, and the bentends of the teeth and the buttons are in the front of the rakehead;hence such bent end lies in a groove formed by the half-groove in. thevbutton and the half-groove in the head, so that in operation. therake-teeth having the free hinge movement will more readily conform touneven surfaces.

The teeth (l are provided with a series of stops, d, of rubber, leather,or similar material, having perforations, so that they can be adjustedon any part of the teeth, and connect to said teeth by friction, andwhich rise and fall with the teeth, thereby preventing the collected hayfrom rising and riding on the teeth above the stops, thus enabling thehay to be discharged from the rake without the aid of clearer-rods orstrippers. The outer end of each half of the axle is secured firmly toits corresponding wheel D by means of a bolt, e', passing through theouter end of the wheel-hub and axle, thereby securing at all times therotation of the axle. The axle, being divided in two parts, permits thewheels to turn in opposite directions. A piece, h, of iron or steel wireor cord is coiled around each half of the axle, one end of Veach coilbeing secured firmly to the head B, while the other ends of the coilsare secured to a foot-treadle, E, which being acted upon by a slightpressure, the coils are made to gripe the axle firm- 1y, and thus lockthe axle and head together v to roll the head and b its attached teethup to fotl as long a period as the pressure upon the f treadle iscontinued, thus enabling the operat'or, through the forward motion ofthe axle,

any desired height,'and` either hold or carry them in position,according to the pressure used upon the treadle. When this pressure isremoved the teeth fall, and instantly resume a working position. Thecross-bar H, supporting the seat I, is provided with a hand-lever, J,the lower end of which is hinged, by connection f, to the head, andserves to roll the head and raise the teeth when backing. The upper endof said lever is curved forward, and serves asV a handle, Yand'also tohold up'the teeth and carry them by being placed beneath or'xu'n'der one'of the teeth.

vrlhe teeth may be lowered to the ground by pressing the treadle, whenthe forward motion of the aide raises th'e teeth and drops the handlefair enofgh to allow the curve on the lever and the tooth to disengagethemselves without further attention from the driver.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I 'claim as new, anddesire to secure by Iie'tters Patent, isL

1. rIhe combination 'of a friction-gripe with the axl'e and 'rake-head,for locking them together, 'for the purposes set forth.

2.l The lo'ngit'ldinally-grooved button G, pivoted to thev front of therake-head, in combination with the bent lrake-teeth and grooves in thehead, whereby the teeth are secured to the head, and a free hingemovement'of the same permitted, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A friction-gripe consisting of a wire or cord connected to therake-head, wrapped around the axle, and connected to the footlever forlocking the axle to the head, substantially as set forth.

4. A friction-gripe, constructed substantially as described, incombination with the divided axle7 secured firmly to the wheels, as andfor the'purposes set forth. Y e

5. The curved lever-handle, in combination with the friction-gripe,substantially as herein described, the axle carrying-the Wheels, the

v rake-head, and the rake-teeth, for the purposes herein set forth. l 6.The stops d, of india-rubber or equivalent material, adjustable upon therake-teeth C, as herein set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoin-gI have hereunto set my hand andseal this 20th day of August, 1875.

CHARLES LA DOW. Witnesses:

A. It. LA DOW, NVM. S. WATERBURY.

